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Chapter 18

The morning seemed to come far too quickly for Buffy's liking. She laid naked , wrapped in Spikes arms, his head nestled into her neck, arms around her protectively and their legs were intertwined. She glanced at the clock and groaned. Her stomach growled and she forced air out over her bottom lip. She needed more sleep, but her need to pee and her even greater need for food would not allow her to slumber any more. Hesitantly she unwrapped herself from Spikes embrace and made her way to the bathroom.

She stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair hung limply and she had dark circles under her eyes. The stress and worry over Spike and the Watchers Council had certainly taken it's toll on her. With eight days til her wedding, she really needed to sort it out, she couldn't look like this in her wedding photo's , she looked ill right now and she wanted radiance , god she needed a facial .Knowing Cordy , she would be the first to point out the fact too, she was always impeccably dressed and looked amazing. She wasn't afraid to point out other peoples flaws, Bitch.
Buffy walked back into the bedroom and smiled at Spike, who was awake and looking more like his old self. The bruising was fading fast and the glint that he always had in his eyes , was back.

"Mornin' gorgeous" he patted the bed .
" Pfft yer right " she jumped on the bed and crawled up to lie next to him.
"Don't put yourself down pet, we all could do with a rest. Once we get home you'll feel better"
"Cos living on a hellmouth is conducive to rest and relaxation, it's a perfect place for a holiday"

Spike laughed "I guess , much happen while I was erm, detained by the wankers ?"
"Nope, not that I was up to doing anything , god I was so worried, don't you ever let them do that to you again!"
"So you givin' me permission to eat the next human that threatens me?" he paused "Not that I need your permission, or would actually eat anyone.... I'm not doin' m'self any favours 'ere am I pet?"

Buffy giggled "Not really, but I know what your saying and no, no eating of the live and kickings, but you can fight back, why didn't you? Fight back I mean"
"It was Giles luv, dint think you'd like it if I beat on the old git. He used a soddin tazer on me n knocked me clean out, woke in the bloody cell"

Spike looked down at his hands as he fiddled with the comforter on the bed . God he was a Master vampire, and here he was sitting in a bed he shared with a Slayer no less. A Slayer that he loved beyond belief and was marrying in less than a week. He knew how much she loved the Watcher and thought of him as a Father, how could he have beaten the guy within an inch of his life and still expect her to love him?

"That's something he is going to regret for a long time, trust me Spike, he won't be getting off lightly, I don't think I'll ever trust him again. Once we get back to Sunnydale , I'll see if he's staying and give him his choices, it's down to him what he does with them, but , he will not be coming between us again, no-one will"
"What about the poof?"
"Angel? What about him?"
"Well, he's not exactly ecstatic" Spike couldn't look into her eyes . His self confidence had taken a battering as well as his body.
"Look at me. Angel and I ended badly, he isn't the one I love or want. Gah! How can I get it through to you? I wouldn't be marrying you if I didn't love you, after everything don't you think that I would have been put off vamps for life? So, the fact that I'm with you must prove how important you are to me and how much I love you"

Buffy snuggled tight into his side and squeezed "Your not having second thoughts are you?"
"No, god no pet, wouldn' , couldn' , god Buffy, love you so much, I'd dust before I'd hurt you"
"Good " she kissed him tenderly and moved back to his side. "Now all we need to do is deal with the jealous ex, the queen of bitchy and the ex Watcher from hell." Buffy groaned and pulled the covers over her head "Call me chicken"
"K chicken"
Laughter came from a smothered Slayer as her vampire pounced .

"I just don't get why they had to stay here, look at you, I mean you've brooded before but this , Angel, you could have a gold medal in it. What is it about her? Ha! I know, why don't you take that case that came in last night. Violence will put that spring back in your step!"
"Cordy, please" Angel sighed " For one thing .. daylight... and second , the only violence that would make me feel better would be me staking that insolent ass of a childe myself"
"Yeah cos that would get you back in her good books, face it, she's made her choice, and I'm kinda glad" Cordy's eyes shot straight to the broody vamps on hearing his growl "Listen, you might not see it that way but, at least now you can really move on and get over her, bout time too"

Angel grabbed his duster from the chair and stormed out , calling behind himself "Think you were right, getting out of here would be the best thing"
"Angel, but the thing with the daylight......"

He was gone.
"Grrr I hope Spike chows down on her neck on the wedding night" Cordy turned out of the office and went back to her post behind the front desk, muttering about skinny blondes and stupid bleached vamps.


Giles yawned and staggered to the bathroom, after showering he looked at the time and huffed . He opened up his overnight bag and took out his wallet. Giles stared at the credit card and rolled around in his fingers. Picking up the phone he dialled the International flight desk and booked his place on the first available flight home. He sat back on the bed heavily. His heart sank but he was sure there wasn't anything else he could do now. He had ruined his relationship with Buffy in a bid to keep her safe. Only now did he realise he made the wrong decision.The cost was too much.Giles had to face her at some point before he left, yet he couldn't seem to gather the muster to go and do it.He picked up his over night bag and opened the door, looking back at the letter he had left on the pillow, he smiled and left.


"Coward!"
"Excuse me?"
"You 'eard me, your a bloody coward!" Spike said as he leant against the wall .

Giles huffed and dropped his bag.

"You were going to sod off back to England an' not tell her"
"I left a note"
"A note? Gee , I take back the coward and raise you an idiot"
"Spike" Giles' tone was harsh
"What? I still haven't let you know how I feel about your part in my little adventure"

Giles fumbled in his pocket, trying to get the stake that he kept there.

"Ah ah ah ... wouldn't if I were you Watcher" Spike grabbed him and held his hand in his pocket, they were face to face now.

"If you dust me then you'll lose the girls respect and love completely , right now she's pissed off, but she'll come back round, now then, like I said , you n me have to have a little chat."

Spike pushed Giles into his room and onto the bed. Spike walked back to the door and shut it. Turning back to the Watcher , he ran his hands through his hair and smirked.

"Guess you think I'm gonna be beatin' or drainin' you dry , maybe I should, but then that will get me staked. No, I'm just goin' to give you something to remember me by, a taste of wha' I had to go through. "
"You think Buffy would let you?" Giles stuttered
"Way I see it, she won't know, you'll be on that flight outta here before she wakes"
"You still expect me to go, I thought you wanted me to stay for her" Giles frowned

Spike shook his head. "If you would endanger me and set the bloody Council up proper like, then you endanger her. You have no bloody idea what it took for me to not tell 'em everything, was all I could do but bite my bloody tongue. If I had spilt my soddin guts then you lot would be on their bloody hit list too" Spike lit up a fag " You an' the Slayers buddies would be dead, but then I don't s'pose you even thought that far ahead.Good job I did then innit."

Spike walked towards the bed and shifted into his demon guise "Now then Ripper , where to start"


Wolfram and Harts halls thrummed with the magical energy that had just exploded within the room that now had five less vamps . The wooden box glowed from inside . As the glow dissipated Holland smiled and turned to Lilah
"Could you see if our guest has made it back safely"

Lilah frowned but walked over to the box and squinted to look inside . Her eyes widened and she pulled back a little. Lilah looked over her shoulder at Holland .
"How and why now? "

Lindsay smiled "It worked?"
Holland stood beside Lilah now and leant towards the small barred window of the box "Welcome back Darla"

Angel sat in the wrecked offices that he used when he first arrived in L.A. He rested his head in his hands , the heel of his palms pressing hard on his red and swollen eyes. He had tried not to be overcome by his emotions and yet he couldn't control it. Now he just felt anger. Anger that the powers had seen fit to play with his soul and his heart, which had meant that he lost the one girl in all the world that he considered his soul mate and his destiny. After all , she was the real reason he did this.... this fighting the good fight. Without the possibility of ever having Buffy at the end of it, well it made it all pointless. Angel made his way back to the hotel, feeling defeated and sullen.

Darla had showered and had finally eaten. Her shock at being human was wearing off and Holland had called her to his office. Lindsay had been given the task of looking after her and was attending the meeting as well. Holland had explained the reason for her resurrection and Darla had looked up with a wicked smile. So she was raised again so that they could extract some vengeance against Angel, great, something she could enjoy. After Holland had gone over the plan with her, Darla left with Lindsay. The first part of the plan was for Angel to become obsessed with Darla , so Wolfram and Hart planned to have her appear in his dreams and used a blend of magic and hypnosis on him.She would arrive at his hotel once the seer told them that Angel was asleep and dreaming, then she would act out the proposed dreams and leave her scent on him, so he would be driven mad by his own obsession.

Giles sat on the bed waiting for the first punch . Spike stood watching him, smoking cigarettes and cussing .Why couldn't he do it? His demon even shrank back from beating on the guy.Giles sat looking at him, which made him angrier .

"Stop lookin' at me you prick! God! "

Spike stormed from the room and came back in a minute later with a highly confused Buffy on his heels.

"What the hell is going on?" She asked Spike, then looking into the room she raised her brows "Oh!"
"I can't bloody hit him or do anything to 'im"
"And that's a bad thing?" she asked Spike
"Well I would hope so " Giles looked at Buffy hoping that she would think that Spike beating him would be bad .
"I wouldn't say a word Giles, not if you know what's good for you" Buffy stroked Spikes chest " Why are your bags packed?"
"He was gonna sod off without you knowing and jus' leave you a note. Thinks he can get away without facing you. M'sorry that I came in 'ere for some revenge but well, glad I did now"
"Is what Spike is saying true? You were just going to leave?" Buffy started crying.

The stress of the last few days had built up and now the dam was breaking. She clung to Spike and watched Giles fumble around and stutter out his version of an apology.

"I wasn't thinking, about anything, the Council had given me an order to terminate Spike or deliver him to them, or they would have killed you too. Your relationship with him is an abomination and they won't accept it, especially after the Angelus incident. I did what I had to , to keep you safe . I was leaving, it's obvious that you no longer need me, I couldn't sit back and watch you marry him, he's no longer got that chip and he hasn't got a soul"

"Why is it you all use Angel as the poster boy for good vamps? Giles, haven't you seen the good in Spike after all this time? For gods sake , try and see him for who he is not what he is"

Cordy came upstairs and interrupted the confrontation "We got a problem guys, it's Angel"
Spike rolled his eyes and looked down at Buffy "Bet the poofs gone and faced the gits that sent the ninja's"

They ran downstairs after Cordelia, she muttered something and Spike huffed .

"What's going on Cordy? You said there's a problem" Buffy sighed , last thing she needed or wanted was to be dealing with her jealous ex.
"He went out this morning even though it was broad daylight and he hasn't come back or checked in. The job that he went out to do was just two fledgling vamps, he should be back by now"
"Spike, is he alive ? I know you can sense him through the familial bond"
"Yeah he is , so where was this job then?"

Cordy took the pad from the front desk and handed the top copy , pointing to the address . "There, the womans name is Deanna something"
"Right, best go fetch the wanker home then "

Spike and Buffy exited the foyer through the double doors. Buffy watched as Spike seemed to get more stressed. Buffy didn't know if she should try and find out what was wrong and therefore decided to remain quiet.Who was she kidding? She couldn't just leave it.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't think you should come with me . Angels bond feels stronger somehow, and .. I can't be sure but I think I can feel Darla and Dru"
"Even more reason for me to come with. If there is a chance that Darla is back and Dru is here then I'm not leaving you alone "
"You think I'll start playing for the other team again don't you ? "
"No, but I don't trust them, and if Angels lost his soul he'll punish you , I can't let you go alone"
"Best make sure we got enough weapons pet"

Buffy looked at the back seat of the car and saw a small arsenal lying there.
"We're good to go"

Spike smiled weakly at her and pulled the car away from the curb, heading towards the address that Cordy had given them.


The house looked pretty normal, whitewashed boards, nice lawn, small flowerbeds and the archetypal white picket fence, at which Buffy had groaned.
"Very Stepford wives innit Slayer"
"Ya huh, and to think, Giles and Angel wanted this for me"

Spike laughed

"There was some vamps 'ere tonight, not now" Spike sniffed the air and walked to the back door.
The blood smear on the door alerted Buffy to the fact that there was a human here at least, and that there must have been a struggle.Spike swiped at the blood and sniffed it, before putting it to his lips.Buffy grimaced but looked past Spike into the house. Spike walked into the kitchen indicating that the owners were either demons or dead.The blood pointed to the latter.

"The blood was Peaches , he was ere alright, and so was Darla. Strange, I think she's not strong, not like she was before"
"How the hell can she be back though? I saw Angel dust her"
"Who knows, don' rightly care, jus' want this over with so we can high tail our asses out of this soddin county an' get on with the rest of our lives"

Buffy raised her brows and looked for clues.

"I know where to look or rather who to look for"
"How?"

Spike handed her the business card "Wolfram and Hart, Lindsay McDonald... right, they're the guys from last night"
"Yeah, looks like we need to see a lawyer "
"I'll ring the hotel and tell them"